Floating saucer



Dec. 10, 1963 H. c. COLLINS 3,113,396

FLOATING SAUCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1961 INVENTOR.

HARVEY C. COLLINS ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1963 H. c. COLLINS 3,11

FLOATING SAUCER Filed March 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

HARVEY C. COLLINS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,113,396 FLOATINGSAUCER Harvey C. Collins, 62% Detroit St, Mount Morris, Mich assignor ofthirtydhree and one-third percent to Ross W. (Iampbell, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Filed Mar. 27, 196i, dew. No. 93,514 16 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) Thisinvention relates to toy rotary aircraft and more particularly to adisc-like toy rotary aircraft which is adapted to obtain gyrosoopicstability by rotation about its vertical axis while propelled forwardlyin flight and which forms while in flight a parachute-like configurationto slow its rate of descent.

In one embodiment of this invention, the toy aircraft is composed of apair of thin, circular, concave, mutually opposed, shells releasablyengaged in mutual contact to form a hollow and separable airfoil w lchmay be manually thrown upwardly and outwardly with a rotary motionapplied thereto so as to achieve gyroscopic stability and aerodynamiclift during flight. A collapsible continuous sidewall joins the innersurfaces of both members near the perimeters thereof and is retained incollapsed condition within the hollow interior of the airfoil while theupper and lower members are maintained in contact with each other duringthe initial portion of flight. As the airfoil descends, air movingupward with respect thereto passes through a plurality of apertures inthe lower member, forcing separation of the upper and lower members andexpansion of the sidewall, disposing the parts in a parachute-likeconfiguration which reduces the rate of descent of the toy.

it is an object of the invention to provide a hollow airfoil capable ofgyroscopically stabilized flight when propelled by forwardly appliedthrust and rotated and which may be transformed into a descent-retardingconfiguration while aloft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow rotary aircraftarranged to maintain a good aerodynamic configuration during the initialperiod of flight and to separate and expand, while aloft, into aparchute-like configuration to slow the rate of aerial descent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hollow rotary aircraftarranged to assume a descent-retarding configuration when acted upon byupward flow of air relative thereto during descent.

A further object is to provide novel means for expand ing a rotaryairfoil into a descent-retarding configuration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hollow rotary airfoilwhich may be separated while in flight into a lower member having anaperture therein and an upper member, said members being joined by aflexible canopy-like sidewall to form therewith when separated avertically stacked descent-retarding configuration.

A further ob lect is to provide novel means for separating a rotaryairfoil arranged to form when expanded a parachute-like assembly.

Still a further object is to provide novel means acting at the rim of arotary airfoil for separating said airfoil.

These, together with other and further objects of the invention whichwill become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attainedby the present invention, preferred embodiments of which have beenselected for purposes of illustration only and shown in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, in which like charactersare employed to designate like parts throughout the same, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a floating saucer.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of a floating saucer.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a floating saucer taltenalong the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

3,ll3,39i Patented Dec. 16, 1963 FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of afloating saucer in expanded arrangement during aerial descent.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a first modified form of a floatingsaucer.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a second modifiedform of a floating saucer.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an upper membergenerally indicated by the figure lil is formed from a thin, circulardisc of light weight, slightly flexible material such as plastic and hasa centrally elevated portion 12 surrounded by downwardly slopingcircular walls 14 and 6 to form a shallow, disc-like surface generallyconcave downward. If desired, the border of member 16 may be thinnerthan the rest of the member so as to provide additional flexibility ofthe border while the rest of the member retains more rigidity.

A lower member generally indicated by 18 is composed of similar materialand includes a centrally elevated circular floorplate 26 connected aboutits periphery to a downwardly sloping wall 22.. Wall 22 is connectedalong its lower periphery to the inner surface of an upwardly directed,outwardly sloping sidewall 24. Sidewall 24 bears a peripheral flange 25and an inwardly directed annular lip 26 connected to the outer edgethereof and forming therewith an inwardly directed continuous recess 27.

A portion of sidewall 24 extends below the juncture of said sidewall andwall 22 to form an outwardly flared annular flange A plurality ofapertures 39 are formed in floorplate 2i? and wall 22. l have found itconvenient to form door 2% wall 22, and apertures 30 by constructingsaid floor and wall in reticular form by the use of a latticelilteassembly of plastic strips, as best illustrated in FiG- URES 2 and 3.

A collapsible continuous side :all 32, formed preferably of sill; or alightweight, flexible plastic such as polyethylene, is connected alongits upper edge to the inner surface of wall 16 near the border thereofat 34 and connected along its lower edge to the inner surface of sidewall 24 near the border thereof at 36. A plurality of small apertures 38are provided in sidewall 32 to permit the slow escape of air therefrom.

The outside diameter of upper member it) is slightly less than the leastdiameter of lip 26, as best illustrated in FIGURES l and 3, so that theborder of upper member it) may be freely introduced into the upperportion of lower member 18 through the opening surrounded by lip as torest against the upper surface of flange 25. However, upper member ltlis of suflicient diameter so that when introduced into lower member 18and slid sidewa s into recess 27 it will be retained in such position bylip around a substantial portion of its perimeter. When preciselycentered within the opening surrounded by lip 26, or when subjected to aslight upward force sufflcient to cause wall 15 to flex near its border,upper member will be upwardly separable from lower member l8 through thecircular aperture surrounded by lip 26. if desired, upper member 16 maybe formed to have a slightly greater diameter than the least diameter oflip so that the border of the upper member must be slightly flexed to beengaged by the lip.

To utilize the invention, sidewall 32 is first collapsed and stowedwithin lower member 18 as best shown in FrGURE 3. Upper member llt'l isthen inserted downwardly through lip 26 to rest against the uppersurface of flange 25. Upper member it) is then slid sideways into recess27 at one side of lower member 18, where it will be retained by lip 2-6until the border of wall is is flexed by an upwardly directed force. Thedevice then presents a saucerliloe configuration which has gyroscopicstability when rotated about its vertical central axis and hasaerodynamic lift when propelled in flight through the air. The devicemay be propelled by manually grasping it at one edge, throwing itoutward, and simultaneously imparting to it a rotary motion, therebycausing it to sail outward through the air and rotate about its verticalcentral axis. The rotary motion imparts gyroscopic stability to thesaucer causing it to maintain an approximately horizontal attitude whilein flight. Flange 2,8 and the horizontal attitude of the saucer preventthe flow of air through which the saucer passes from entering apertures30 prior to descent of the saucer.

The rotary motion also causes upper member 19 to continually shift itsposition horizontally within recess 27 so as to be continuallyoverlapped by that portion of lip 26 which from instant to instant leadsthe saucer in its outward line of flight. The leading edge of lip 26hence causes the air through which the device is moving to flow over thetop of upper member 19, preventing such flow of air from impinging onthe inner surface of said member. Member is thus retained in contactwithin recess 27 by lip 26 so as to maintain the floating saucerunseparated during the initial portion of flight.

When sufficient aerodynamic lift has been lost during flight, the saucercommences to descend under the influence of gravity. Air flowing upwardrelative to the saucer during descent passes through the opening offlange 28, enters the airfoil through apertures 39, and impingesupwardly upon sidewall 32 which, in turn, presses upwardly againstmember 10. The border of wall 16 has sufficient flexibility so that suchupward pressure transmitted by sidewall 32 causes flexure anddisengagement of wall 16 upwardly from lip 26. Member 10 is thus causedto separate from member 18. The air thus flowing upwardly throughapertures 30 expands sidewall 32- to form, in combination with member 19and member 18, a parachute-like configuration, best illustnated inFIGURE 4, which slows the rate of descent of the toy. 1

Excess pressure within the parachute is prevented by apertures 38 insidewall 32 through which may escape a small portion of the airentrapped therein. Since member 18 is of heavier weight than member 10,the device maintains a vertical attitude and will not invert or collapseduring descent. The device thus floats slowly to the ground where it maybe retrieved for reuse.

In one modification of my invention, best shown in FIGURE 5, I form aplurality of flexible extensions 4% at the border of wall 116. The outerportion of each of these extensions extends beneath lip 26 and intorecess 27 of member 13, thus retaining member 10 in separable engagementwith member 18. During descent, the upward pressure against sidewall 32and the lower surface of member 10 by air flowing upward throughapertures 30 causes flexure of extensions 40 and separation upwardly ofmember 10 from member 18.

In a second modification of my invention, best shown in FIGURE 6, Iprovide a plastic rod 42 threadably engaged at its lower end within athreaded aperture 44 in floorplate 2%. A plurality of uniformly curvedplastic vanes 46 are rigidly connected to the upper end of rod 42. Rod42. extends downward through an aperture 48 in, and a boss 50 on, uppermember 1-9. Lip 26 may be omitted in this modification of my inventionsince rod 42 serves to (releasably join member 10 and member 18. Flange25 is retained, however, to serve its aerodynamic function.

The flow of air past this second modified form of my floating saucerwhen in flight causes rotation of vanes 46 and rod 42 relative andopposite to the direction of rotation of the airfoil, thus unscrewingrod 42 from threaded aperture 44. When rod 42 has become disconnectedfrom threaded aperture 44, member 19 is free to separate from member 18.Air flowing horizontally past the device will cause separation ofmembers It) and 13, reducing aerodynamic lift, and causing the device todescend. The flow of air upward through apertures 30 during descent thenexpands sidewall 32 as hereinbefore described. By varying the number ofthreads on rod 42 adjustment may be made in the time of flight whichwill elapse prior to separation of members 1% and 18. Rod 42 ismaintained in association with member 10 after separation of member 10from member 18 by a collar 52 which surrounds the shank of the rod.Spring means (not shown) may be employed, if desired, to hastenseparation of member '14 from member 18 when rod 42 has becomedisengaged from threaded aperture 44.

While the forms of apparatus and the methods of operation hereindescribed constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto and that changesmay be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventionwhich is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. In combination, an upper circular member and a lower circular memberof greater weight than said upper member and having an aperture therein,said members being mutually contacta-b-le to form a hollow disk-likeairfoil capable of being rotated about its vertical central axis andsimultaneously being propelled in linear flight, means near the outeredges of said members releasably retaining said members in mutualcontact near their perimeters and permitting separation thereof whenupwardly directed force is applied to said upper member, and acontinuous collapsible sidewall surrounding said aperture, joining saidmembers, and releasably disposed in collapsed condition within saidairfoil when said members are in mutual contact to effect separation ofsaid members by transmitting upwardly to said upper member the force ofair flowing through said aperture and impinging thereon during descent,said sidewall being arranged to be expanded by said flow of air whensaid members are separated to form together therewith a parachute-likeassembly to slow the rate of descent thereof.

2. In combination, an upper circular member having a flexible border, alower circular member of greater weight than said upper member andhaving a lip thereon arranged to releasably engage said border and topermit said border to be disengaged therefrom when said border is flexedby upwardly directed force applied to said upper member, said upper andlower members forming when said border is engaged by said lip a hollow,separable, disk-like airfoil capable of being rotated about its verticalaxis and being propelled in linear flight, said lower member having anaperture therein through which may pass upwardly the relative flow ofair through which said airfoil passes during descent, a continuouscollapsible sidewall joining said upper and lower members, surroundingsaid aperture, releasably disposed in collapsed condition within saidairfoil to be impinged upon by said flow of air and to transmit theforce thereof upwardly to said upper member to efiect separation of saidmembers, and to be thereby expanded to form together with said members aparachute-like assembly to slow the rate of descent.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said collapsible sidewall has a venttherein.

4. The device of claim 2 including means supporting said sidewall withinthe interior of said airfoil above said aperture in said lower memberwhen said sidewall is in collapsed disposition.

5. The device of claim 2 including a downwardly extending annular flangesurrounding said aperture in said lower member.

6. The device of claim 2 including means supporting said sidewall withinthe interior of said airfoil above said aperture in said lower memberwhile said sidewall is in collapsed disposition, a downwardly extendingannular flange surrounding said aperture in said lower member, and ventmeans in said collapsible sidewall.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein said border comprises a plurality offlexible extensions.

8. A toy floating saucer comprising, in combination, a centrallyelevated circular floorplate having a plurality of apertures therein andconnected along its periphery to the lower end of an upwardly directed,outwardly sloping continuous sidewall having an inwardly directedcontinuous lip surrounding the upper edge thereof, and a downwardlydirected annular flange surrounding said apertures, to form a lowermember, a centrally elevated circular disc having a flexible border,forming an upper member lighter in weight than said lower member andreleasably engaged about a substantial portion of said border by saidlip, a collapsible, continuous, vented sidewall connected along itsupper continuous edge to the inner surface of said upper member,connected along its lower continuous edge to the inner surface of saidlower member surrounding said apertures, and cooperating with said upperand lower members to form in combination therewith a collapsibleparachute-like assembly, said upper and lower members forming, when saidborder is engaged by said lip, a hollow disk-like airfoil containingsaid sidewall in collapsed condition and being capable of maintaining asubstantially stable attitude when rotating about its vertical centralaxis while simultaneously propelled in flight, said apertures in saidfloorplate permitting entrance within said airfoil of a sufficientrelative flow of upwardly directed air during descent of said airfoil toimpinge upon said sidewall, to flex and separate said border from saidlip to effect separation of said members, and to expand said assembly toslow the rate of descent.

9. A toy floating saucer comprising, in combination, a centrallyelevated circular floorplate having a plurality of apertures therein andconnected along its periphery to the lower end of an upwardly directed,outwardly sloping continuous sidewall having an inwardly directedcontinuous lip surrounding the upper edge thereof, and a downwardlydirected annular flange surrounding said apertures, to form a lowermember, a centrally elevated circular disc, having a plurality offlexible extensions on the periphery thereof, forming an upper memberlighter in weight than said lower member and releasably retained incontact therewith by engagement of said flexible extensions beneath saidlip, a collapsible, continuous, vented sidewall connected along itslower continuous edge to the inner surface of said lower membersurrounding said apertures, and cooperating with said upper and lowermembers to form in combination therewith a collapsible parachute-likeassembly, said upper and lower members forming, when said flexibleextensions are engaged by said lip, a hollow disk-like airfoilcontaining said sidewall in collapsed condition and being capable ofmaintaining a substantially stable attitude when rotating about itsvertical central axis while simultaneously propelled in flight, saidapertures in said fioorplate permitting entrance within said airfoil ofa suflicient relative flow of upwardly directed air during descent ofsaid airfoil to impinge upon said sidewall, to flex and separate saidextensions from said lip to effect separation of said members, and toexpand said assembly to slow the rate of descent.

10. in combination, a pair of separable members forming when in mutualcontact a hollow airfoil, a continuous collapsible sidewall connected atone end to the inner side of one of said members and surrounding asubstantial area thereof, said sidewall being adapted to be releasablyretained within said airfoil when collapsed and to form together withsaid connected member a parachutelike assembly when expanded, threadedmeans, having a plurality of vanes projecting therefrom, extendingthrough one of said members and threadably engaged with the other ofsaid members to releasably retain said members in mutual contact and torelease said members from mutual contact when said threaded means isrotated with respect to said other member by impingement upon said vanesof air through which said airfoil passes during flight, said memberswhen released being disposed to be separated, and said assembly to beexpanded, by said air to slow the rate of such passage.

ll. In combination, an upper member and a lower member having anaperture therein, said members forming when in mutual contact a hollowand separable airfoil, means, having a vane thereon, releasablyretaining said members in mutual contact and arranged to release saidmembers from mutual contact when said vane is substantially moved withrespect to said airfoil by impingement of air through which said airfoilpasses while in flight, and a continuous collapsible sidewall joiningsaid members, surrounding said aperture, disposed to receive and beexpanded by air flowing upward through said aperture during descent toseparate said members and to form together therewith a parachute-likeassembly to slow the rate of descent.

12. In combination, an upper circular member and a lower circular memberof greater weight than said upper member and having an aperture therein,said members being mutually contactable near their peripheries to form ahollow disk-like airfoil capable of being rotated about its verticalaxis and being propelled in linear flight, a rod threadably engaged atone end with said lower member, extending through an aperture in saidupper member, and having vanes on the other end of said rod, toreleasably retain said members in mutual contact and to release saidmembers from mutual contact when said rod is rotated by rotation of saidvanes relative to said lower member by impingement of air through whichsaid airfoil passes during flight, and a continuous collapsible sidewalljoining said members, surrounding said aperture in said lower member,disposed when stowed in collapsed condition within said airfoil totransmit upwardly to said upper member the force of air impingingthereon through said aperture in said lower member during descent and tobe thereby expanded to form together with said members a parachute-likeassembly to slow the rate of descent.

13. A toy floating saucer comprising, in combination, a centrallyelevated circular floorplate having a plurality of apertures therein andconnected along its periphery to the lower end of an upwardly directed,outwardly slopin continuous sidewall, and a downwardly directed annularflange surrounding said apertures, to form a lower member, a centrallyelevated circular disk forming an upper member lighter in weight thansaid lower member, said upper and lower members being mutuallycontactable near their peripheries to form a hollow disklike airfoilcapable of maintaining a substantially stable attitude wl en rotatingabout its vertical central axis while propelled in flight, acollapsible, continuous, vented sidewall connected along its uppercontinuous edge to the inner surface of said upper member, connectedalong its lower continuous edge to the inner surface of said lowermember surrounding said apertures, disposed when stowed in collapsedcondition within said. airfoil to transmit upwardly to said upper memberthe force of air impinging thereon through said aperture during descentof said airfoil and to be thereby expanded to form together with saidmembers a parachute-like assembly to slow the rate of descent, and arod, having vanes attached to the upper end thereof and a collar on theshank thereof, extending downwardly through an annular boss and acentral aperture in said upper member and threadably engaged at itslower end with said lower member at the center thereof, to releasablyretain said upper and lower members in mutual contact and to releasesaid members, from mutual contact when said rod is substantially rotatedby rotation of said vanes: relative to said lower member by impingementof air through which said airfoil passes during flight.

14. In combination, a pair of separable members forming when in mutualcontact a hollow airfoil, one of said members having a concave centralportion, a continuous collapsible sidewall connected at one end to saidmember near the perimeter thereof and surrounding said central portion,said central portion and said sidewall being adapted to form the canopyand sidewall, respectively, of a parachute-like assembly when saidmembers are separated and disposed in a spaced, parallel,vertically-stacked arrangement, the other end of said sidewall beingconnected to said other member to support said other member in a spaced,parallel, vertically-stacked relation with and depending below saidfirst member when said members are separated, means releasably retainingsaid members in mutual contact, means for separating said members, andmeans permitting air through which said device passes to enter and fillsaid parachutelike assembly when said member are separated, to slow therate of such passage.

15. In combination, a pair of separable members forming when in mutualcontact a hollow airfoil, one of said members having a concave centralportion, a continuous collapsible sidewall connected at one end to saidmember near the perimeter thereof and surrounding said central portion,said central portion and said sidewall being adapted to form the canopyand sidewall, respectively, of a parachute-like assembly when saidmembers are separated and disposed in a spaced, parallel,vertically-stacked arrangement, the other end of said sidewall beingconnected to said other members to interengage said members throughoutthe operation of the device and to support said other member in aspaced, parallel,vertically-stacked relation with and depending belowsaid first member when said members are separated, means releasablyinterengaging the outer edges of said members about a substantialportion of their perimeters to releasably retain said members in mutualcontact, means for disengaging the outer edges of said members, andmeans permitting air through which said airfoil passes toseparate saidmembers, to slow the rate of such passage.

16. In combination, a pair of separable members forming when in mutualcontact a hollow airfoil, one of said members having a concave centralportion, a continuous collapsible sidewall connected at one end to saidmember near the perimeter thereof and surrounding said central portion,said central portion and said sidewall being adapted to form the canopyand sidewall, respectively, of a parachute-like assembly when saidmembers are separated and disposed in a spaced, parallel,vertically-stacked arrangement, the other end of said sidewall beingconnected to said other member to support said other member in a spaced,parallel, vertically-stacked relation with and depending below saidfirst member when said members are separated, connecting meansreleasably engaging the outer edges of said members about a substantialportion of their perimeters, said members being retained in mutualcontact when their outer edges are engaged by said connecting means andbeing separated and assuming a spaced, parallel, vertically-stackedarrangement by air impinging upwardly upon said upper member when saidmembers are released from engagement, said lower member having anaperture therein arranged to permit upward passage therethrough of airthrough which said airfoil passes during descent to eifect separation ofsaid members and to enter and expand said sidewall, to slow the rate ofdescent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,803,506 McDonough May 5, 1931 1,835,717 Moore Dec. 8, 1931 1,867,714Shippee et al. July 19, 1932 2,051,151 Northrop Aug. 18, 1936

1. IN COMBINATION, AN UPPER CIRCULAR MEMBER AND A LOWER CIRCULAR MEMBEROF GREATER WEIGHT THAN SAID UPPER MEMBER AND HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN,SAID MEMBERS BEING MUTUALLY CONTACTABLE TO FORM A HOLLOW DISK-LIKEAIRFOIL CAPABLE OF BEING ROTATED ABOUT ITS VERTICAL CENTRAL AXIS ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY BEING PROPELLED IN LINEAR FLIGHT, MEANS NEAR THE OUTEREDGES OF SAID MEMBERS RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID MEMBERS IN MUTUALCONTACT NEAR THEIR PERIMETERS AND PERMITTING SEPARATION THEREOF WHENUPWARDLY DIRECTED FORCE IS APPLIED TO SAID UPPER MEMBER, AND ACONTINUOUS COLLAPSIBLE SIDEWALL SURROUNDING SAID APERTURE, JOINING SAIDMEMBERS, AND RELEASABLY DISPOSED IN COLLAPSED CONDITION WITHIN SAIDAIRFOIL WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE IN MUTUAL CONTACT TO EFFECT SEPARATION OFSAID MEMBERS BY TRANSMITTING UPWARDLY TO SAID UPPER MEMBER THE FORCE OFAIR FLOWING THROUGH SAID APERTURE AND IMPINGING THEREON DURING DESCENT,SAID SIDEWALL BEING ARRANGED TO BE EXPANDED BY SAID FLOW OF AIR WHENSAID MEMBERS ARE SEPARATED TO FORM TOGETHER THEREWITH A PARACHUTE-LIKEASSEMBLY TO SLOW THE RATE OF DESCENT THEREOF.